SISTER MERCY DIAMONDS REVIEW by the late Steve Pringle. (We cannot bear to take this down)

Sister Mercy’s new album, Diamonds… wow! It simply is amazing and I don’t say that lightly! It will be an honor for me to turn folks on to this album. I have Buddy Guy’s new track with Keith Richards and Jeff Beck right next to your music. I can’t say there are many locals I can do this with, so know…you guys have raised your bar quite a bit with this one. This disc has such a great sonic sound to it, and the writing is awesome as well. Each tune is thoughtful and well put together. It really does kick ass… you guys are the audio equivalent to a fine 15 year scotch…say a good bottle of Macallan! Steve Pringle KGON Sunday Night Blues

CFUV Blues in the Morning Favorites 2018

Blues in the morning CFUV 101.9 FM Victoria… One of the top ten albums of 2018…

 

International Blues Challenge Semi-Finalist 2018

Portland Journey to Memphis Winner 2015 & 2017

International Blues Challenge Semi-Finalist 2016

Best New Band Muddy Award Nomination 2015

Rick Keys Blues Caravan Top 20 CD of 2018 San Diego

Best Contemporary Blues Band Muddy Nomination 2017

KGON Portland Best of the Blues 2018 - Steve Pringle

SHOWS AND EVENTS

HIGH ENERGY R&B BLUES BAND featuring APRIL BROWN
SISTER MERCY possesses a high-energy, rhythm and blues driven sound. Lead singer April Brown is mesmerizing with her powerful, beautiful presence, full range vocals, and complete joy in performance. The talented Scott Garcia adds guitar and vocal textures. Rounded out with Roger Espinor on drums, Johnny Webb on bass, and Debby Espinor on keys. SISTER MERCY has a unique place in the blues along with April Brown’s velvet voice the rest of the band supplies strong background vocals and original music. Semifinalist in the International Blues Challenge 2016 and 2018, SISTER MERCY was also nominated for Best New Band and Best Contemporary Blues Band for the Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards. SISTER MERCY presents music that is a pleasure for the ears and a show that is a feast for the eyes.

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Sister Mercy have now released their sophomore disc, hitting just in time for an over the top performance at the Waterfront Blues Festival. Great new blues and R&B packed with passion and spot on harmonizing. Many of the tracks are well known numbers from their shows the past couple years, including their terrific cover of the Etta James classic with Brown’s deliberate mesmerizing scatting of “Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma!!!” Other songs the band has been bringing to perfection over the past year or so include originals like “Lay Down With Me,” “Treat Me Like A Lady,” “Poison” and “Beale Street.” Most of the songs are band originals, with Roger, Debby and April’s sister Kelsey Brown doing the majority of the penning.

Diamonds is definitely an album of note. There is nary a track included that doesn’t make you want to pay closer attention and jump up and dance! And believe me, they work just as effectively on disc as they do on stage!

Greg Johnson

President, Cascade Blues Association

“OMG! It will be an honor for me to turn folks on to this album. You guys have raised your bar quite a bit with this one. This disc has such a great sonic sound to it without scraping the headroom! Amazing sound. The writing is awesome as well, your tunes are so thought out and are well put together. It really does kick ass, good for you guys!!! This one is a favorite child for me! You guys are the audio equivalent to a fine 15-year scotch…say a good bottle of Macallan!!!”

June 2018

Steve Pringle

DJ, KGON FM 92.3

If I were to ever relocate solely based on being able to live in an area with an abundance of very talented blues bands, it would easily be somewhere in the Pacific Northwest – particularly around the Portland, OR area. Spanning the approximately twenty years I’ve been writing these reviews I can’t even begin to tell you how many high quality submissions I’ve received from that area. As a matter of fact, in one of my earlier reviews I recall saying something about assuming a CD would be good just by seeing a zip code starting with 97 or 98 in the return address on the mailer. That was certainly the case when I recently received a package from Debby Espinor of Sister Mercy.

That package contained “Diamonds”, the second release from Sister Mercy – the Portland, OR based band that consists of: April Brown on lead vocals; Scott Garcia on guitar and vocals; Roger Espinor on drums and vocals; John Webb on bass; and Debby Espinor on keyboards and vocals. The disc contains ten tracks of which seven are band originals.

The first impression Sister Mercy made on me took place before the music even started. As I looked at this picture of the band inside the CD jacket…..

I recall thinking that regardless of the type of songs, or styles in which they were played, that they’d probably be done in a very powerful manner. Sure enough, just like the zip code thing held true, so did the story the band’s picture told.

One of the disc’s three covers is a very well done version of the traditional “Traveling Shoes”. It’s a Gospel style smoker that features what I’m going to call the bands trademark – powerful, range roving, attention commanding lead vocals from April with very similar vocal backing by Debby. Throw in the added backup from the guys and you’ll swear your listening to a full fledged choir. Speaking of the guys, they’re getting in some musical licks as well. The strong rhythm and stinging guitar leads make the whole thing work as well as it does.

Although “Tell Mama” was written by Clarence Carter the song was made popular by Etta James. Etta’s version is best known for being an answer to an earlier song of Carter’s called “Tell Daddy”. In any event, had Sister Mercy been around during the Motown years, unlike Clarence or Etta versions, this ambitious rendition would have easily topped the R&B charts.

The album’s most traditional blues effort is an original titled “Beale Street” – the home to where it all goes down in Memphis, TN. Having been there several times as their blues society’s International Blues Challenge representative, and making it to the semi-finals both those times, it’s my interpretation that the song is an autobiographical account of the city’s merciless seduction of the band: blinding them with the bright city lights; wooing them with the sound of the blues and alluring them with it’s charm. Yep, Sister Mercy fell head-over-heals for Beale Street and they’ll never, never, never be the same. Welcome to the club! The track features a laid back, tight rhythm groove, several very nice slow blues guitar licks and as usual, the lead, harmony and backup vocals are the songs driving force.

The disc closes with another original titled “Stop Knocking”. Calling it a melancholic break up song would pretty much nail the description. Although it’s April doing the booting, the obvious pain exuding from her emotional vocals make it evident there will be a torch for her to bear. In spite of the sad subject matter, the duet featuring Debby – with an exquisite piano performance – and April – putting on a flawless, spell binding vocal performance – it becomes an incredibly beautiful song.

Peter Lauro

Blues Editor, Mary4Music

Summer 2019

Summer 2019

SISTER MERCY was a busy band this past summer. We started by working on writing new material for an album due out early 2020. It is always fun to be part of the Waterfront Blues Festival each summer, then onto several outdoor summer concerts in the park in Sherwood, West Linn, Camas, Hillsboro and Kingston. Playing for over 5000 folks this summer is truly a highlight. Aside from working on a new album this fall, Sister Mercy is excited to travel to a couple of our favorite wineries for the beautiful fall crush. Before you know it, Christmas will be here and we have two shows for you this December. December 13 at the new Catfish Lou’s and December 15 at The Manor Underground. Jump on board and join us for one of our fall gigs at Catfish Lou’s.

DIAMONDS getting worldwide airplay

Seems like there are places in the world taking note of SISTER MERCY's new album "Diamonds". So far there have been stellar reviews from Soundarts in Greece, Roadhouse 700 worldwide, Severn FM in England as well as Kansas, Michigan and NYC. Keep on....

Diamonds – Sister Mercy New CD out July 2

Diamonds – Sister Mercy New CD out July 2

SISTER MERCY's sophomore album will be available July 2, 2018. Called "Diamonds" this album of mostly original music sparkles with April Brown's vocals and strong rhythmic sounds. Two years in the making, it is worth the wait. You can get your's on Amazon or CD Baby.

Walkin’ in Memphis

Walkin’ in Memphis

Memphis ....the mecca for blues, hosted SISTER MERCY on its Beale St.  Two nights we played our hearts out at Alfreds.  Then we made it to the SEMI-FINALS.  And that meant we played at B.B. Kings on Beale St.  Could it get any better?  Well, we could have made the...